A Parentified 10-Year-Old Girl Was Asked To Take Care Of Her Special Needs Classmate During A School Trip, And The Poor Kid Breaks Because She Can’t Take It Anymore
Kids should be kids. They won't have another shot.
Some kids end up carrying more than their age should allow, and Izzy is one of them. At just 10, she is already helping care for her younger brother at home and looking out for a classmate who leans on her at school.
Her mom, OP, says Izzy is kind, responsible, and always willing to help, but that same kindness has started to turn into pressure. When a school trip came up, Izzy was expected to share a room with her special needs classmate, and the request left her overwhelmed.
What happened next left OP feeling guilty, the other child’s mom upset, and Reddit firmly on Izzy’s side. Read on.
A mother of a child with special needs wanted her classmate to take care of her on a school trip. Her mother protected her daughter while also feeling guilty for doing so.
star5112 (not the actual photo)OP shares her story:
RedditShe has four kids, one of them with autism and ADHD
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And the oldest has to take care of him sometimes
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Since Izzy knows how to behave around kids with special needs, Maisy loves her
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The kids were supposed to go on a trip with their class and Izzy was guilt-tripped into sharing a room with Maisy
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Izzy first agreed, but later broke down
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This broke her mom’s heart
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Because she knows what Izzy is going through
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This is a lot like the family arguing over rehoming their dog for his well-being, even as their daughter cried.
She is taking care of others, and she gets very little attention
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And OP feels very bad about it
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Izzy's teacher also believes she needs a break
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But Maisy's mom doesn't think so
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She asked OP to ask Izzy again. When OP said no, she was not happy
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And started to blame Izzy
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Izzy's dad agrees
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But OP is still burdened by guilt
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The Redditors, however, have no doubts., They all support Izzy 100%
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Izzy is not a support animal
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Izzy is just a child
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She doesn't need a break. That would imply it is her job or duty, and that she would have to return to it.
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People who have autistic children hire respite providers for these things
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The bottom line is:
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It’s so sad to see a parentified child. Izzy is deprived of many things.
She has to take care of her brother when her parents can’t, and when they are with her siblings, they don’t have any time for her. We have to say that this parentification is not really her parents’ fault.
Basically, if she wants to spend time with her brother (which she does), she has to take care of him. And one thing leads to another.
It is sad, but that’s just the way it is.
Before you judge, read how one sister set boundaries when her sibling expected nonstop babysitting help.
